TRUCKEE, Calif. – On Tuesday, Jan. 21, students at Truckee High School took a stand for women’s rights by organizing a school-wide walkout. Led by the POWER (People Organized for Women’s Empowerment and Respect) Club, the protest aimed to raise awareness about pressing issues surrounding women’s rights, reproductive health, and equality in the United States.
The demonstration, which took place on Donner Pass Road in front of the school, drew significant attention from both the student body and the community. Participants exercised their right to civil disobedience, voicing their frustrations and concerns about a range of issues affecting women nationwide.
Among the concerns raised were:
- Disparaging comments about women from government officials, including the president.
- Women’s limited control over their bodies across the United States.
- A rise in online hate speech targeting women following the 2024 election.
- Alarming social media rhetoric advocating for regressive measures like “repealing the 19th Amendment.”
- The prevalence of rape culture and normalization of sexual assault on college campuses.
- Restricted access to healthcare and reproductive services in many states.
- Rising maternal mortality rates in the U.S.
- Persistent gender pay gaps, with women earning only 84 cents for every dollar a man earns.
- A collective sentiment that the rights of previous generations of women have been eroded.
“We want to live in a nation that supports women as equal members of society. We do not want to go backwards; we want to have a future that includes all citizens, not just one gender,” Maggie Cooke, a senior at Truckee High and one of the club’s presidents, said.
Fellow co-president India Welch emphasized the importance of activism, saying, “I think it’s important to be a part of the right side of history and fight for equality.”
The protest received a warm response from the community, with cars honking in support as they passed by. “With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it seemed like a lot of the women were upset and wanted to show the community that we are not going to stand for that,” Co-president Bryn Kidd said.
Zoe Meyer is a reporter for the Sierra Sun, a sister publication for Tahoe Daily Tribune. She can be reached at [email protected].
This post was originally published on here
